Bayt Mal Al-Quds Acharif Agency seeks to mobilize over $7 Mln for its projects in 2021
The Bayt Mal Al-Quds Acharif Agency seeks to mobilize over $7 million for the projects it plans to implement in 2021.
In its annual report, the Morocco-based Agency, stresses that it has programmed several projects amounting to more than $ 7.412 million and covering the sectors of social assistance (29%); protection of cultural and urban heritage (27%); education (22%); housing (15%). In 2020, the agency granted loans worth $5.3 million to renovate the homes of needy Maqdessi families. Projects benefiting children, youth, sports, and women will get 7% of the amount.
With regard to the social assistance sector, the projects programmed and adopted amount to two million US dollars. The Agency has adopted specific projects to support the inhabitants of the Holy City and help them cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, improve their living conditions, fight against poverty and reduce social disparities.
In the education sector, the cost of the projects programmed by the agency reaches 1.5 million dollars. Despite its limited resources, the Agency has decided to focus on providing an appropriate environment for education.
The agency also plans to assist students by offering them scholarships in the fields of Medicine, Pharmacy, Law, Economics and Human Science and by implementing training programs, among other initiatives.
In 2020, the agency granted 20 scholarships to students of Al-Quds University.
Regarding the sector of youth, sports and women (524,000 US dollars), the Agency has programmed human development projects focusing on the inclusion of the youth in the labor market and on creating income-generating economic activities.
According to the Agency, several projects were programmed in the housing sector, namely reconstruction, restoration and rehabilitation programs, for which more than $3 million were allotted.
Projects totaling more than $1.974 million have been earmarked
to protect the cultural and urban heritage related to the Moroccan Cultural Center “Dar Al Maghrib”, says the report.
The report focuses on the economic, social, educational, cultural and health situation in the city of Al-Quds in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also reviews the Agency’s action in Al-Quds for the year 2020 and the prospects for future action in 2021.
About the projects carried out in 2020, the agency said that
the social sector accounted for 75% of the total projects and programs. These projects cost $1.441 million out of the total expenses that exceeded $1.921 million.
The social assistance programs included decent living program, sponsorship of Maqdessi orphans, food parcels (Covid-19 pandemic) and the food basket of Ramadan.
12% of the total projects carried out in 2020 were devoted to the culture sector and the protection of urban cultural heritage (about $241,210), while the percentage allocated to the health and education sectors reached 8% (over $150,000) and 5% ($88,600) respectively, the report notes.
As for the management of the Covid-19 pandemic in Al-Quds, the Agency has elaborated an emergency plan with a budget of 250,000 dollars to support priority sectors, namely health, education, and assistance to needy families during the lockdown.
The Agency’s achievements for the year 2020 include the launch of a guidance and support E-platform for Al-Quds associations and organizations to submit project applications.
